JANUARY 4-5.

ISAIAH vii. 14.

Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

MATTHEW i. 25.

And he knew her not till she had brought forth her first born son: and he called his name Jesus.

KEBLE.

When wandering here a little span,
Thou took'st on Thee to rescue man,
Thou hadst no earthly sire:

That wedded love we prize so dear,
As if our heaven and home were here,
It lit in thee no fire.

On no sweet sister's faithful breast
Wouldst thou thine aching forehead rest,
On no kind brother lean:

But who, O perfect filial heart,

E'er did like thee a true son's part,
Endearing, firm, serene ?

JANUARY 2-3.

JEREMIAH xxxi. 32.

How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing, a woman shall compass a man.

MATTHEW i. 13.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

MILMA N.

Thou wert born of woman ! thou didst come, O Holiest ! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array;

And not by thunders strewed was thy tempestuous road ;

Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way. But thee, a soft and naked child.

Thy mother undefiled,

In the rude manger laid to rest

From off her virgin breast.

JANUARY 4-5.

ISAIAH vii. 14.

Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

MATTHEW i. 25.

And he knew her not till she had brought forth her first born son: and he called his name Jesus.

KEBLE.

When wandering here a little span,
Thou took'st on Thee to rescue man,
Thou hadst no earthly sire:

That wedded love we prize so dear,
As if our heaven and home were here,
It lit in thee no fire.

On no sweet sister's faithful breast
Wouldst thou thine aching forehead rest,"
On no kind brother lean:

But who, O perfect filial heart,
E'er did like thee a true son's part,

Endearing, firm, serene?

JANUARY 6-7.

MICAH V. 2.

But thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old from everlasting.

MATTHEW ii. 1.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea.

O Saviour, whom this holy morn
Gave to our world below;
To mortal want and labour born,
And more than mortal woe!

If gaily clothed, and proudly fed
In dangerous wealth we dwell,
Remind us of thy manger bed,
And lowly cottage cell!

If prest by poverty severe,
In bitter want we pine;

Oh! may the Spirit whisper near,
How poor a lot was thine.

JANUARY 8-9.

GENESIS xlix. 10.

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a law-giver from between his feet, until Shiloh come.

MATTHEW ii. 1.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King.

MURRAY.

E'er Judah's sceptred power had fled,
And legal night had passed away,
The star of promised Shiloh shed
O'er distant lands its peaceful ray.

And eastern sages saw the sign,

And knew the appointed time had come,
When God should raise, of David's line,
A Prince to call the Gentiles home.

And Bethlehem's shepherds heard the strains
Which herald angels joyed to sing,
Whilst floods of glory lit the plains,
In honor of the infant King.